The Specialty Wine Retailers Association (SWRA) has declared its support for a lawsuit that has challenged Texas state law prohibiting consumers from purchasing and receiving wine directly from out-of-state retailers.

The suit has been brought in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas by a group of independent wine retailers against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Lesley Berglund, president of the SWRA, said: "It is the right of every wine consumer to have greater choice and access to wines across America, regardless of whether they're purchasing from a winery or retailer.

"We support this lawsuit filed by Kirkland & Ellis that challenges Texas' unfair laws and look forward to helping consumers access the wines they prefer from retailers of their choice across the country."

"A great state has done a real wrong, by engaging in an archaic form of economic protectionism that plainly violates the constitutional rights of citizens," said James Shannon, partner of Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm representing the retailers. "As the US Supreme Court made clear in its recent Granholm v Heald decision, the Commerce Clause requires that out-of-state wine retailers be treated the same as in-state wine retailers.

"Rather than abide by the US Constitution, however, Texas apparently has decided to favour the interests of its powerful liquor lobby, by seeking to prevent out-of-state wine retailers from delivering wines directly to Texas consumers. That unconstitutional decision also punishes Texas consumers, who are made to pay more for wine and have a lesser selection of it."

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